Christian Retailing

ICRS: Robertsons, CBA heads open ICRS with ribbon cutting and prayer Print Email
Written by Natalie Gillespie   
Tuesday, 24 June 2014 02:40 PM America/New_York

RibbonCutting-Robertsons-webSuitcases, rolling bags, and eager retailers filled the lobby of the Georgia World Congress Center Monday morning for the opening ceremonies of the 65th annual International Christian Retail Show. Duck Dynasty father and son duo Phil and Alan Robertson spoke before the annual ribbon cutting to open the exhibit floor.

Alan, known as the “beardless brother” of the Duck Commander empire, is a pastor and spoke from the heart to encourage retailers to stick with their mission to spread the gospel.

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ICRS: Retailers receive special screening of 'The Song' Print Email
Written by Natalie Gillespie   
Tuesday, 24 June 2014 12:55 PM America/New_York

TheSongFilmWhen Louisville, Kentucky-based screenwriter and director Richard Ramsey got the idea to portray the biblical King Solomon on film as a modern-day singer-songwriter, he wondered if he was going a little nuts. But the more he thought about it, the more intriguing the idea became. The result is The Song, an upcoming September theatrical release more than two years in the making that tells a gripping tale of what fame, fortune and sins of the flesh can do to true love.

Starring Nashville actors Alan Powell, Ali Faulkner and Caitlin Nicol Thomas, The Song tells the story of Jed King, a singer-songwriter (and son of a famous singer named David King) who makes it to the big time and almost loses his family and his life in the process. The film contains 11 original songs, including a beautiful title track performed by Powell and Thomas. Powell plays guitar, and Thomas shows off her violin and vocal skills throughout the film, which was screened twice for retailers and suppliers Monday night at ICRS in Atlanta. The actors also played the title track live before several hundred retailers.

At a reception before the screening, the actors and director mingled with retailers and suppliers and talked about the impact they hope it will make.

“When I first read the script, it impacted me,” Powell said. “It still impacts me every time I see it.”

The movie is a City on a Hill Production, and includes a partnership with best-selling author and pastor Kyle Idleman. Small group study curriculum and other church resources will release at the same time as the film, in hopes that the movie can be a tool to bring healing to marriages and bring hope to the lost.

“It’s an honest look at love, sex, marriage, and true satisfaction in life,” Idleman said.

Ramsey calls it “a film for the restless,” referencing Jeremiah 29:13, which states: “You will find me when you seek me with all of your heart.”

The Song is scheduled to release in more than 400 theaters nationwide on September 26. For more information, visit www.thesongmovie.com.

 
ICRS: Mary Manz Simon honored for 20 years of children’s workshop Print Email
Written by Natalie Gillespie   
Tuesday, 24 June 2014 12:19 PM America/New_York

MaryManzSimon-20YearsChildren’s author and trends expert Dr. Mary Manz Simon threw a party Monday afternoon with hundreds of retailers in attendance to celebrate the 20th year of her Children’s Trends Workshop, presented annually at ICRS. Seats were decorated with T-shirts, party horns and chocolate to mark the occasion, and attendees were also treated to fresh-baked cookies and cupcakes at the end of the event.

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ICRS: Winners announced in 2014 Christian Retailing’s Best awards Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Tuesday, 24 June 2014 10:38 AM America/New_York

CRBest14-winnersWinners of the 2014 Christian Retailing’s Best awards were announced Tuesday morning, June 24, at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Atlanta. Abingdon Press was the runaway winner with 12 awards this year, while Tyndale House Publishers and Baker Publishing Group each took four awards.

Todd Starnes, author of God Less America (FrontLine/Charisma House) and host of the “FOX News & Commentary” daily radio show, presented the 2014 awards, at the Creative Pavilion stage at the Georgia World Congress Center. Steve Strang, founder and CEO of Charisma Media, welcomed the guests, and Christine D. Johnson, editor of Christian Retailing magazine, the sponsor of Christian Retailing’s Best, emceed the awards.

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ICRS: J.I. Packer, HarperCollins Christian get top honors from Logos retailers Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Tuesday, 24 June 2014 01:00 AM America/New_York

JIPackerDustJacketHeadshotThe Association of Logos Bookstores presented Book of the Year winners and other key awards at ICRS. Becky Gorczyca, executive director, presented the awards at the show in Atlanta, and with winners displaying the awards in their booths on the show floor.

Author of the Year, chosen as the writer whose body of work exemplifies the power of books to change lives forever, went to J.I. Packer. Thomas Nelson and Zondervan both won Vendor of the Year, while Distributor of the Year prizes went to Anchor Distributors and Spring Arbor.

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ICRS: Kyle Idleman offers relevant message at Munce Vendor Breakfast Print Email
Written by Ginny McCabe   
Monday, 23 June 2014 11:58 PM America/New_York

Idleman-MunceBreakfastFlorida-based retailing marketing organization Munce Group hosted its annual vendor breakfast Monday, which featured best-selling author and pastor Kyle Idleman (AHA, David C Cook) and singer/songwriter/actor Alan Powell (lead singer of Anthem Lights).

Kirk Blank, president of Munce Group, said the event was created to encourage and thank their partners.

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ICRS: ‘Burning Sky’ wins Christy Award for ‘Book of the Year’ Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Monday, 23 June 2014 11:48 PM America/New_York

ChristyAwardsDavisBunn2014-webNew author Lori Benton was honored with three Christy Awards Monday evening, June 23, at the event that has celebrated Christian fiction for 15 years.

Not only was Benton’s Burning Sky given the top honor, but it also won for her the First Novel and Historical categories. Benton was not able to attend, however, as she is battling cancer and is having surgery the day after the Christys. In her stead, her editor, Shannon Marchese, of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, and agent, Wendy Lawton of Books & Such, accepted her awards.

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ICRS: Philip Yancey addresses Parable, Covenant retailers Print Email
Written by Ginny McCabe   
Monday, 23 June 2014 10:49 PM America/New_York

YanceyParableSigningBest-selling author Philip Yancey met with Parable and Covenant Group retailers to share more about his forthcoming Zondervan release, Vanishing Grace: Whatever Happened to the Good News? (Oct. 21).

"Philip's message is incredibly important to help us as believers to be reminded of that incredible grace of God that we need to have reflected in our lives," said Steve Potratz, president of The Parable Group.

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